The Bright Side: A Hello Sunshine Podcast

iHeartPodcasts
  • 4.4 (162)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED DAILY

The Bright Side, the hit podcast from Hello Sunshine, is back for a brand new season! Every Monday, join Emmy nominated host, Simone Boyce, as she brings you a dose of culture and inspiration - with celebrity interviews, the latest in health and wellness, smart takes on pop culture, and real conversations with women doing amazing things. The Bright Side is a destination for joy and connection; the show is designed to inspire, educate, and empower women as they navigate everyday challenges and live life to the fullest. 

  1. Booktuber Cindy Pham on Escapist Book Trends and Her Debut Novel

    1D AGO

    Booktuber Cindy Pham on Escapist Book Trends and Her Debut Novel

    This week, we’re joined by BookTube royalty and queen of reviews Cindy Pham. Now stepping into her author era, she’s here to talk about it all: what’s on her TBR, why she’s drawn to messy, flawed characters, and how years of reviewing books have shaped the way she writes her own. Cindy also shares the story behind her debut novel, The Secret World of Briar Rose, from first drafting it as a teenager to returning years later with a completely new perspective and a fully developed frontal lobe. Plus, we get into reality TV deep dives, bookish trends she’s loving and side-eyeing, and the hilarious promise of a future rant video about her own main character, because no one is safe, not even her.   BOOKS MENTIONED: Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser  This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke  The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham That Asian Girl Is a Problem by Rachel Phan (Coming Soon) Just Between Us by Adeline Kon  Strange Familiars by Keshe Chow What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami Book Lovers by Emilty Henry The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland The River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun Know My Name by Chanel Miller See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min
  2. Fate, Fandom, & the Making of Into the Blue with Reese’s Book Club Author Emma Brodie

    APR 28

    Fate, Fandom, & the Making of Into the Blue with Reese’s Book Club Author Emma Brodie

    This week, we’re back with Emma Brodie, whose second novel, Into The Blue, is April’s Reese’s Book Club Pick - and Emma and Danielle are going down aaaaall the rabbit holes. From what makes a good fandom, to how improv comedy is, in fact, inherently sexy, to the BTS secrets of filming reality TV, their convo is just as lush as Emma’s decade-spanning, sci-fi tinged, “will they, won’t they” romance.  BOOKS MENTIONED: Into the Blue by Emma Brodie Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie Hitmakers by Derrick Thompson  The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory  Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    57 min
  3. New Book, New Faction: Veronica Roth Revives the Divergent Universe

    APR 21

    New Book, New Faction: Veronica Roth Revives the Divergent Universe

    This week, Danielle is chatting with Veronica Roth, who’s fresh off a major announcement: Divergent. Is. Back. The original trilogy has sold over 35 million copies since it debuted 15 years ago. Veronica has been publishing countless novels and short stories ever since, but now she’s ready to revisit the Divergent universe — with a new twist. “The Sixth Faction” is an alternate universe retelling that dares to ask: what if Tris never left Abnegation, and joined Dauntless? Danielle and Veronica talk about hot tubs, dystopian fiction, and learning to love your own work in all its imperfections. And don’t worry — Tris and Four will still have a meet-cute.  Books Mentioned: Divergent by Veronica Roth The Sixth Faction by Veronica Roth  Four: A Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth 1984 by George Orwell Allegiant by Veronica Roth See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min
  4. From Rejection to the Bestseller List with Author Alex Aster

    APR 14

    From Rejection to the Bestseller List with Author Alex Aster

    This week, Danielle is joined by Alex Aster, the prolific, Romantasy Queen of Booktok. Coming out of 2025, in which she published four novels, Alex is back with Starside, her first foray into adult fiction – and, later this year, Barbie: Dreamscape, a YA retelling of the beloved Mattel doll. Alex and Danielle talk perseverance in publishing, the power of storytelling, and which romantasy tropes give Alex the ick (spoiler: hardly any of them do).  BOOKS MENTIONED: A Guide to Literary Agents by Robert Lee Brewer Lightlark Series by Alex Aster Starside by Alex Aster  Curse of the Night Witch by Alex Aster Curse of the Forgotten City by Alex Aster Summer in the City by Alex Aster Barbie Dreamscape by Alex Aster   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    42 min
  5. Margo’s Got Money Troubles: From Cult Favorite to TV Binge with Rufi Thorpe

    APR 7

    Margo’s Got Money Troubles: From Cult Favorite to TV Binge with Rufi Thorpe

    On this week’s episode, Danielle sits down with Rufi Thorpe, the author of Margo’s Got Money Troubles, the wildly original novel that’s now been adapted into a highly anticipated Apple TV+ series. They talk about the chaos and comedy of motherhood, the reality of being in your twenties with no roadmap, and the power of choosing your own path even when it makes people uncomfortable. Plus, Rufi reveals her delightfully messy writing habits and gives some fun BTS details from the show.   BOOKS MENTIONED: Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdrich Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min
  6. The Lisa Rinna-saince: The Traitors, Ghostwriters, and Her New Memoir

    MAR 31

    The Lisa Rinna-saince: The Traitors, Ghostwriters, and Her New Memoir

    This week, Danielle is hanging out in an icon’s closet. And not just any icon – Lisa F*cking Rinna. Fresh off her book tour for her new memoir, You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It, Lisa is here and ready to show up as her full self – silly, joyful and growing — always growing! Lisa takes Danielle behind the scenes of writing her memoir, deep dives into some juuuicy Real Housewives drama – and even devises a little acting role for herself, should, you know, the opportunity arise.    BOOKS MENTIONED: You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It by Lisa Rinna  Pretty Mess by Ericka Jayne  Believe Me by Yolanda Hadid See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min
  7. Evil or Misunderstood? March’s Reese’s Book Club Pick Reimagines a Classic Fairytale

    MAR 24

    Evil or Misunderstood? March’s Reese’s Book Club Pick Reimagines a Classic Fairytale

    This week, we’re talking with author (and puzzle entrepreneur) Rachel Hochhauser about the March Reese’s Book Club Pick, Lady Tremaine. It’s not just a re-telling of Cinderella — it’s an un-telling that dares to ask: what if the wicked stepmother wasn’t wicked … but a mom trying her best to provide for her children? And what if a marriage isn’t a happily ever after … but the beginning of a whole new story? Danielle and Rachel talk puzzle-solving strategies, falconry, and decentering men and romance in women’s stories. You may think you know the story of Cinderella, but you’ve never read it like this. BOOKS MENTIONED: Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser Cinderella by Charles Perrault  Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen Sleeping Beauty by  Charles Perrault See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    39 min
  8. Feminist Historian Philippa Gregory on Reclaiming the Women History Forgot

    MAR 17

    Feminist Historian Philippa Gregory on Reclaiming the Women History Forgot

    This week, we’re time traveling with Philippa Gregory, prolific author and feminist historian (and maybe Danielle’s new bestie???). Philippa is the woman behind over 50 historical fiction novels that trace narratives across Medieval and Tudor England, including The Other Boleyn Girl, which was adapted into a film starring Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson. Her latest novel, The Boleyn Traitor, follows the infamous Anne Boleyn’s sister-in-law, Jane Boleyn, through her life as a spy in the English court. And this story, as so many of Philippa Gregory's do, brings a complicated, sometimes unlikeable, largely forgotten woman to the forefront. Because Philippa doesn’t really trust pure, pious women. She’s drawn instead to the truth – that women in from history are just as layered and diverse as we are today.  BOOKS MENTIONED:  The Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory  Normal Women: 900 Years of Making History by Philippa Gregory  Wild Acre by Philippa Gregory The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory  Richard III by William Shakespeare This Little World: A New History of Tudor and Stuart England by Nandini Das The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling Little Grey Rabbit by Alison Uttley The Female Eunuch by Germaine Greer Ulysses by James Joyce Mine Own Executioner by Nigel Balchin See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    57 min
See All (306)

Trailers

Hosts & Guests

4.4
out of 5
162 Ratings

About

The Bright Side, the hit podcast from Hello Sunshine, is back for a brand new season! Every Monday, join Emmy nominated host, Simone Boyce, as she brings you a dose of culture and inspiration - with celebrity interviews, the latest in health and wellness, smart takes on pop culture, and real conversations with women doing amazing things. The Bright Side is a destination for joy and connection; the show is designed to inspire, educate, and empower women as they navigate everyday challenges and live life to the fullest. 

Information

  • Channel
    iHeartPodcasts
  • Creator
    iHeartPodcasts and Hello Sunshine
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    306
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    2026 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia
  • Show Website
    The Bright Side: A Hello Sunshine Podcast
  • Provider
    iHeartMedia + Entertainment, Inc

More From iHeartPodcasts

You Might Also Like